I’m excited to be taking part in the Bray Literary Festival this year. It takes place from Friday, September 27th to Sunday, September 29th and has a fantastic line-up of readings, discussions, workshops and music. The full programme of events is available to view here.

I’ll be facilitating a beginners’ fiction workshop on Saturday, September 28th at 10am. It costs €10 and booking details are available here.

Course description:

Beginners Fiction: Fiction: A Sense of Place – with Maire T. Robinson

“Place” in fiction is not only about setting. It can inform every element of story: plot, character, mood, theme, and voice. A strong sense of place can provide a vivid, engaging, and atmospheric experience for the reader.

In this workshop, we will examine how established writers (including Daphne du Maurier, Elif Shafak, and Sarah Waters) use setting to bring fiction to life. Through guided writing exercises, we will explore practical techniques to hone descriptive writing and create convincing story worlds.

Topics covered will include engaging the senses, point of view, and reflecting mood and character through setting.

All materials will be provided on the day. Participants will also receive a curated reading and resource list to assist them in further developing their fiction post-workshop.